Sunday, February 10, 2013

(Venice, Italy) Thanks to a cultural exchange between the Russian Republic of Dagestan and Venice, the dancing group the "Youth of Dagestan" is here during Carnevale, performing their passionate dances on stage at Piazza San Marco. From the Carnival of Venice official site, slightly edited:

On the southern edge of Russia lies a wonderful mountain village - Dagestan - indeed, the Mount of languages, the ancients said. The people here speak over thirty different languages​​.
However, all the ethnic groups have lived and worked in peace for
centuries. Since ancient times Dagestan has been famous for its handicrafts. The art of
the masters and popular culture are transmitted from generation to
generation, with poems, songs and dances.

Their national dance lezghinka -- impetuous, fiery, fervent -- does not leave anybody indifferent. The performances of the dancing group "Youth of Dagestan" is a testament
to the originality of the multicultural society of Dagestan. The group was formed in 1978 by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic
of Dagestan. Over the years the group has developed into a collective of
skilled dancers.

The group has achieved a broad consensus of the public in 32 countries
and has won the International Festival of Folklore on several occasions. Today, the complex State dance of the people of the Caucasus is performed by "Youth of
Dagestan," a group of high-level professionals who are always looking
for new forms of artistic expression and are ready to reach new levels!

It's peaceful here in Venice, with throngs of people wandering through town, some dressed in elaborate costumes, some not, some wearing masks, some not, and others getting designs painted on their faces. Here are some images I captured today.

As far back as the 11th century, the mattaccino costume
was worn by mischievous young men, who, dressed as clowns, would
bombard noblewomen with eggs filled with rosewater, inspiring the first
official documentation regarding masks: a 1268 law prohibiting the
throwing of eggs while disguised. The Venetian government apparently gave up trying to enforce it,
however, and resorted to putting up nets along the Procuratie in St.
Mark's Square to protect the ladies and their rich clothing.

Mask-making in Venice can be documented back to the 13th century,
though it probably existed much earlier. On April 10, 1436, the ancient
profession of mascareri was
founded under the jurisdiction of the Painter's Guild. Over the years,
masks were used for a variety of reasons -- in the government, the
theater, and as a means of disguise. Masks provided the Venetians a
degree of anonymity.

The wearing of a mask put everyone on the same level: rich and poor,
nobleman and citizen, beautiful and ordinary, old and young. It
permitted confidences to be exchanged anonymously -- everything from
accusations before State Inquisitors, to a potpourri of sexual
indiscretions. Prostitutes practiced their trade without fear of
retribution; homosexuals hid their illicit lifestyle. In 1458, it was
decreed that men were forbidden to dress up as women and enter convents
to commit indecent acts.Not all masks were used for indelicacies, however. The bauta was
worn by both men and women, and was not considered a costume but a form
of dress -- required wearing if a woman wanted to go to the theater. Il medico della peste had a long beak-like nose stuffed with disinfectants, and, as its name implies, was used to protect doctors from the plague.

Another ingredient in this colorful mix was the Italian theater, Commedia dell'arte.
In the 18th century, the renowned Venetian playwright, Carlo Goldoni,
brought theatrical masks to the forefront. Pantalone, Harlequin,
Colombina and Pulcinella were among the many masks that found their way
into the Carnival.

Over the years, Carnival festivities grew more decadent until it evolved
into a 250-day event of non-stop parties, gambling and dancing. Social and class distinctions were
flipped on their heads, with servants dressing up as masters and vice
versa. It was difficult to distinguish a housewife wearing a traditional
mask, cape, hood and three corner hat from a nobleman dressed in the
same outfit, allowing both to move freely though the city without fear
of recognition. ...

Over in Campo Sant' Angelo there is the Carneval Altro - Facciamo la Festa all'Austerity, or the "Other Carnival - Let's Celebrate Austerity," where students flood in from all over the region and dance the night away, and where the anti-cruise ship folks, Comitato No Grandi Navi, have set up a base. Dogs play frisbee while gyros sizzle in the background, and the sweet smell of crepes cooking perfumes the air.

There is something for everybody at this year's Carnival, and everyone seems to be having a good time. The thing that always amazes me about the Carnival in Venice is how polite people are despite sometimes being caught in a pedestrian traffic jam. There is a feeling of goodwill permeating the air, and the city feels alive and warm. Let's hope it is a sign of more good things to come!

3 comments:

Thanks to a cultural exchange between the Russian Republic of Dagestan and Venice, the dancing group the "Youth of Dagestan" is here during Carnevale, performing their passionate dances on stage at Piazza San Marco.

..."On the southern edge of Russia lies a wonderful mountain village - Dagestan - indeed, the Mount of languages, the ancients said. The people here speak over thirty different languages​​. However, all the ethnic groups have lived and worked in peace for centuries. Since ancient times Dagestan has been famous for its handicrafts. The art of the masters and popular culture are transmitted from generation to generation, with poems, songs and dances."

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Award-winning author Cat Bauer (HARLEY, LIKE A PERSON; HARLEY'S NINTH - Alfred A. Knopf) has lived in Venice, Italy since 1998. She was a regular contributor to the International Herald Tribune's Italian supplement, Italy Daily, published with Corriere della Sera. Venetian Cat - Venice Blog has been featured in the Financial Times Weekend Magazine, and is read in 190 countries & territories, and 154 languages.

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TIPS FOR MOVING AROUND VENICE

As featured in the Financial Times Weekend Magazine

Imagine you are a car. That is how to move around Venice. Imagine the calli are roads. If you behave like a car, then you will cause less impact on the environment.

1. Stay to the right when walking (even if you are British:). Please! Pass slow moving creatures on the left.

2. Do not sit on the bridges, never, under any circumstances whatsoever. One person sitting on a bridge can cause a traffic jam for miles. Would you stop on the Golden Gate Bridge?

3. Before stopping, look both ways, plus, in front and behind, and make sure there is no one else around. Do not stop short. Someone could rear-end you.

4. Think in terms of campi. Move from campo to campo, not calle to calle. When you get to a campo, then you can stop and see where you are, have a seat, some coffee, a spritz, and relax. A campo is a rest area, a scenic stop.

So, put that all together. You walk along the calle, staying to the right. If a shop catches your fancy, you slowly pause, sensing if there is anyone around you, then pull over on the right. When you are done, you merge back in the flow. Then you arrive at a campo. You find a nice table, order a drink, take out your map, and see where you are. It is a wonderful ballet.

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When a major clinical trial is cut short because it would be “unethical to continue,” it’s safe to say the findings could be life-changing for participants. In the case of a monumental new study measuring how a Mediterranean diet—versus a low-fat diet—affected heart disease among people at high risk, the results were so clearly in favor of the former that researchers ended the trial early. - See more at: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/02/27/eat-like-a-greek-the-mediterranean-diet-that-could-save-your-life.html?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=cheatsheet_afternoon&cid=newsletter%3Bemail%3Bcheatsheet_afternoon&utm_term=Cheat%20Sheet#sthash.xwuRC5mo.dpuf

“Habitual drinkers” who followed the Mediterranean diet in the latest study were given the option of downing at leastseven glasses per week with meals. - See more at: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/02/27/eat-like-a-greek-the-mediterranean-diet-that-could-save-your-life.html?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=cheatsheet_afternoon&cid=newsletter%3Bemail%3Bcheatsheet_afternoon&utm_term=Cheat%20Sheet#sthash.xwuRC5mo.dpuf

Red wine, in “moderation,” has for some time been thought of as heart-healthy, brimming with antioxidants that may help protect the lining of blood vessels and prevent blood clots. “Habitual drinkers” who followed the Mediterranean diet in the latest study were given the option of downing at leastseven glasses per week with meals. A small carafe is part of a balanced Mediterranean breakfast for the centenarian residents of Ikaria, a Greek island where people reach the age of 90 at nearly three times the rate that Americans do. According to a recent study, they enjoy up to four glasses of wine per day. - See more at: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/02/27/eat-like-a-greek-the-mediterranean-diet-that-could-save-your-life.html?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=cheatsheet_afternoon&cid=newsletter%3Bemail%3Bcheatsheet_afternoon&utm_term=Cheat%20Sheet#sthash.xwuRC5mo.dpuf

“Habitual drinkers” who followed the Mediterranean diet in the latest study were given the option of downing at leastseven glasses per week with meals. A small carafe is part of a balanced Mediterranean breakfast for the centenarian residents of Ikaria, a Greek island where people reach the age of 90 at nearly three times the rate that Americans do. According to a recent study, they enjoy up to four glasses of wine per day. - See more at: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/02/27/eat-like-a-greek-the-mediterranean-diet-that-could-save-your-life.html?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=cheatsheet_afternoon&cid=newsletter%3Bemail%3Bcheatsheet_afternoon&utm_term=Cheat%20Sheet#sthash.xwuRC5mo.dpuf

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Audience Room

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